Miltochrista phupana, Volynkin & Černý, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V & Černý, Karel, 2023, Three new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner from Thailand (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 69, pp. 1-9 : 2-4

Miltochrista phupana sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:24C3140C-BE6A-44CC-8106-068396FD26DC

( Figs 1–3 , 15, 16 , 23 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 1 , 15 ): male, “E. Thailand | Sakhon Nakhon [ Province ], | Phu Pan NP, 320 m, | 17°05,767'N, 102°59,91'E | 5.–7. XI. 2010 leg. K. Černý ” / “Slide | AV2589 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM, ex CKC).

Paratypes. THAILAND: 2 males, 1 female , the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV2591 ♂ ( CKC) ; 1 male, 1 female, the same locality as in the holotype but 10–13.X.2007, T. Ihle leg., gen. prep. No.: AV2590 ♀ ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.0–8.5 mm in males and 8.5 mm in the female paratype. Miltochrista phupana sp. n. ( Figs 12–14 ) is externally reminiscent of M. parvulus and differs only in the slightly more arcuate medial line. The reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genitalia structure of the new species ( Figs 15, 16 ) is most similar to M. banlanga sp. n. ( Fig. 17 ) and the detailed comparison is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to M. parvulus ( Fig. 20 ), the male genital capsule of M. phupana sp. n. ( Figs 15, 16 ) has a thin uncus which is proximally dilated and dorso-ventrally flattened (whereas it is crescent-shaped and laterally flattened in the congener), shorter and narrower arms of the tegumen, a broader valva with a thicker distal costal process, a markedly smaller distal membranous lobe, a more weakly setose sacculus, and straighter and symmetrical distal saccular processes whereas the left saccular process of M. parvulus is basally broader and longer than the right one. The phallus of M. phupana sp. n. is considerably longer than in M. parvulus and has a broader, rather lobular carinal crest. Compared to M. parvulus , the vesica of the new species has a markedly shorter and straight distal diverticulum (it is medially twisted in the congener), lacks the dorsal diverticulum, and bears considerably longer, blade-shaped cornuti, which are thorn-shaped in M. parvulus . As the female of M. banlanga sp. n. is unknown, the female genitalia of M. phupana sp. n. ( Fig. 23 ) were compared only to M. parvulus ( Fig. 24 ), from which the new species differs in the markedly longer ductus bursae with a deeper medial ventral ostial notch, the broader posterior sclerotised area of the corpus bursae edged with a cluster of shorter spines ventrally and bearing a considerably shorter postero-lateral cluster of spines at the junction with the ductus bursae, the shorter anterior section of the corpus bursae, and the substantially longer and broader appendix bursae. Additionally, in M. phupana sp. n., the lateral sclerotised plates of the 7 th abdominal sternite are longer and broader than in M. parvulus , and bear shorter lateral pockets.

Distribution. Eastern Thailand (Sakhon Nakhon Province).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality of the new species. The name is a noun in nominative singular in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

Figures 1–14. Miltochrista ssp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1, 4 and 5 in MWM/ZSM (ex CKC); 2, 3, 6, 7, and 12–14 are in CKC.

Figures 15–18. Miltochrista ssp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 15, 17 and 18 in MWM/ZSM (ex CKC); 16 in CKC.

Figures 23–26. Miltochrista ssp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 23 and 24 in CKC; 25 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 26 in OUMNH.

Figures 19–22. Miltochrista ssp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 19 and 20 in CKC; 21 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 22 in OUMNH.